USA Swimming Foundation wins award from National Water Safety Congress

4/3/2013

SAN ANTONIO – The USA Swimming Foundation is the proud recipient of The National Water Safety Congress’ (NWSC) Regional Award. The award was announced at the 17th International Boating and Water Safety Summit on March 25.

Each year at the annual event, which was held March 24-27 in San Antonio, the NWSC holds an award ceremony and selects individuals and organizations that made outstanding contributions to water safety during the previous year. The USA Swimming Foundation was one of six winners to receive the Regional Award.

“The USA Swimming Foundation is honored to be recognized by the National Water Safety Congress at this year’s Water Safety Summit,” said Debbie Hesse, the Executive Director of the USA Swimming Foundation. “This is a wonderful recognition of the positive work our organization has done to promote learn to swim and water safety for children and we are proud to be included among this year’s honorees.”

This is the first award the Foundation has ever received from the NWSC.

The Regional Award is given to an individual, organization, firm or agency that has contributed the most to water safety issues or programs within a region or within a multi-state area.

The USA Swimming Foundation was created in 2004 with a mission to support programs that save lives and build champions in the pool and in life.

In 2007, the Foundation launched Make a Splash, a water safety initiative aimed to provide every child with the opportunity to swim. Since then, in collaboration with its Make a Splash Local Partners, the Foundation has provided more than 177,500 scholarships for learn-to-swim and water safety programs. It has also granted $2.5 million to provide free or reduced cost swimming lessons to children who may not otherwise have the chance to swim.

To date, more than 1.7 million kids have received the life-saving gift of swim lessons through its Local Partner network.